Inductively coupled extension antenna for a radio frequency identification reader
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification reader assembly, comprising:
- a reader, including;
reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal;
a first antenna, where the first antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry; and
a reader housing containing the reader circuitry; and
an extension antenna including;
an elongated housing;
a second antenna located at one end of the housing; and
a third antenna located at the opposite end of the housing, where the second antenna is electrically connected to the third antenna;
wherein the first antenna and second antenna are inductively coupled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for adapting a portable RFID reader to create a portable RFID reader assembly that includes an extension antenna. In many embodiments, the extension antenna can be added to increase the reach of the portable RFID reader. The extension antenna is inductively coupled to the portable RFID reader and in many embodiments, the extension antenna is retrofit to an existing portable RFID reader. In other embodiments, a portable RFID reader and one or more extension antennas are produced as part of a set. One embodiment of the invention includes a reader having reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal, a first antenna, where the first antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry, a reader housing containing the reader circuitry, an extension antenna including an elongated housing, a second antenna located at one end of the housing, and a third antenna located at the opposite end of the housing, where the second antenna is electrically connected to the third antenna. In addition, the first antenna and second antenna are inductively coupled.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification reader assembly, comprising:
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a reader, including; reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal; a first antenna, where the first antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry; and a reader housing containing the reader circuitry; and an extension antenna including; an elongated housing; a second antenna located at one end of the housing; and a third antenna located at the opposite end of the housing, where the second antenna is electrically connected to the third antenna; wherein the first antenna and second antenna are inductively coupled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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3. (canceled)
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8-9. -9. (canceled)
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23. (canceled)
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24. An extension antenna, comprising:
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a first resonant antenna circuit; a second resonant antenna circuit; an electrical interconnection between the first and second resonant antenna circuits; and an elongated housing containing the first and second antenna circuits and the electrical interconnection; wherein the first resonant antenna circuit is located at one end of the elongated housing; and wherein the second resonant antenna circuit is located at the opposite end of the elongated housing. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of activating an electronic identification tag, comprising:
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generating a time varying electrical signal; generating a time varying magnetic field indicative of the time varying electrical signal; detecting the time varying magnetic field; generating a second time varying electrical signal indicative of the detected magnetic field; generating a second time varying magnetic field indicative of the second time varying electrical signal; and activating the electronic identification tag using the second time varying magnetic field.
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29. A method of obtaining identification data from an activated electronic identification tag, comprising:
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detecting a magnetic field indicative of the identification data; generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected magnetic field; generating a second magnetic field that is indicative of the electrical signal; detecting the second magnetic field; generating a second electrical signal indicative of the detected second magnetic field; and extracting the identification data from the second electrical signal.
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Specification